Twelve years ago, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, hitting symbols of the industrial and military might that underpin American power.

Local Marines helped lead the counterattack into Afghanistan with an arsenal steeled by other values of the nation, including duty, courage and sacrifice for the common good.

During an evening colors ceremony on national Patriot Day, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will recognize the “9/11 Warrior” who continues to defend America, civilians and troops who died, first responders to the attacks and San Diegans who lend their support.

An FDNY firefighter stands at attention at 10:03 am at a firefighter's memorial near One World Trade Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, on the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. This moment marks when United Airlines Flight ...
— / Associated Press Photo/Craig Ruttle

President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hold their hands over their hearts during the playing of the National Anthem, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at the Pentagon during a ceremony to mark the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
— / Associated Press Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Members of American Legion Post 258 hoisted the Patriot Flag behind their headquarters Monday morning with the help of the Viejas Fire department's ladder truck, as people salute during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. The 30x56' flag has ...
— Peggy Peattie

This Sept. 11, 2001 file photo shows smoke rising from the burning twin towers of the World Trade Center after hijacked planes crashed into the towers, in New York City. The U.S. government is aware of no credible or specific ...
— / Associated Press File Photo/Richard Drew

In this Sept. 11, 2001 file photo, a jet airliner is lined up on one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. A person familiar with developments said Sunday, May 1, 2011 that Osama bin Laden is dead ...
— / Associated Press File Photo/Carmen Taylor

A fireball explodes from one of the World Trade Center towers after a jet airliner crashed into the building in this Sept. 11, 2001 file photo, in New York.
— / Associated Press File Photo/Carmen Taylor

Marine Neal Auricchio pays his respects as he reads the names scripted onto the walls of the north reflecting pool during a ceremony in 2012 marking the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 ...
— / Associated Press File Photo/The Record of Bergen County, Chris Pedota, Pool

A rose is placed next to the name of a victim of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the North Pool of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in New York. Construction ...
— / Associated Press Photo/Mary Altaffer

Andrew Timson, 7, etches the name of his slain uncle, Andrew Fisher, in 2012 at ceremonies marking 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012 in New York. New York City is commemorating ...
— / Associated Press File Photo/John Moore, Pool

The World Trade Center the ceremony takes place at the National September 11 Memorial marking the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in New York.
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In this Sept. 11, 2001 file photo, a helicopter flies over the Pentagon in Washington as smoke billows over the building. The terrorist-hijacked airliner that slammed into the west side of the Pentagon killed 184 people.
— / Associated Press file photo/Heesoon Yim)

A woman lays a sunflower on a bench as the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks are observed at the Pentagon in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
— / Associated Press File Photo/Charles Dharapak

Rev. Alphonse Mascherino rings the bell donated to him while standing in the old church he is renovating into a memorial chapel for Flight 93 near the crash site in Shanksville, Pa., Aug. 4, 2002. Mascherino hopes to build a ...
— / Associated Press File Photo/Keith Srakocic

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk to the crash site of Flight 93 during their visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial Sunday, Sept., 11, 2011, in Shanksville, Pa., on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
— / Associated Press File Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Even with Osama bin Laden dead and the NATO campaign in Afghanistan scheduled to end next year, Americans should always pause to remember Sept. 11, said Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

“We can never lose sight of the fact that the world is a dangerous place. And this nation is fortunate that they’ve got young men and women willing to volunteer to put themselves at risk to protect the freedoms that we hold dear,” Busby said.

The Marines lived up to their “first to fight” and “tip of the spear” ethos after the attacks, including commanders based in San Diego County who played key roles in the invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis led the first conventional troops into southern Afghanistan during the invasion, including a Camp Pendleton-based Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed at sea. Then in 2003 Mattis and the 1st Marine Division led the charge toward Baghdad, Iraq.

The evening ceremony was organized by sergeants and corporals, the backbone of the Corps and what Busby calls the air wing’s “VIPs.” The tone will be mostly celebratory, in honor of the people who pulled together after the attacks. Not just the Marine Corps, but an entire nation.

But TAPS will play in memory of the almost 3,000 killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and nearly 7,000 U.S. troops who have died in subsequent combat.

Two Marines killed in action serving with the air wing headquartered in San Diego will be honored. Nearly one year ago, on Sept. 14, 2012, insurgents infiltrated Camp Bastion, part of the complex that serves as Marine headquarters in southwestern Afghanistan. Six Harrier jets from a Yuma-based squadron were destroyed and two more were heavily damaged.

Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell, two Marines who ran to the flight line to fight off the insurgents, were killed in rocket-propelled grenade attacks.

“They are two men who understood selfless service and sacrifice, two extraordinary leaders who did exactly what we would hope leaders of Marines would do,” Busby said. “Take action to protect those they were responsible for and then accomplish the mission at hand.”

Almost 5,000 people were invited to the colors ceremony, including Medal of Honor recipients and Marine veterans Dakota Meyer, Robert Modrzejewski and Jay Vargas.

Meyer, the guest of honor, was awarded the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal, in Kunar province, Afghanistan on Sept. 8, 2009, when he plunged repeatedly into an intense firefight to search for missing comrades. At 25, he is the youngest Medal of Honor recipient alive today and the first living Marine to receive the honor since 1973.